|
I used to smoke cigarettes a very long time ago. I was a chain smoker, lighting up one cigarette off the other. After smoking for many years, I grew tired of the taste in my mouth & the smell, and I knew it wasn’t good for me. I decided to quit, & weaned myself off the cigarettes. That didn’t work. I started smoking again. After smoking for another six months, I’d had it. I wanted to quit for once and for all. I decided to try going “cold turkey” since weaning myself off cigarettes didn’t work. This time, I was able to quit forever. I suppose some people can quit by gradually decreasing smoking, but I wasn’t one of those people.
When it comes to trying to lose weight, one can’t quit eating “cold turkey”! I looked at what worked for me in regards to my being successful at ending my smoking habit. What I found for me, is that it’s gotta be all or nothing! I also saw that making excuses not to lose weight was a major downfall, but we all have to eat, so now what was a girl to do? I knew I was going to have to stop all excuse making “cold turkey” in order to succeed. No days off, no cheating, no banking points, no bingeing, no allowances for holidays or special occasions, nothing. The way I figured it was that I had enjoyed 22 years of eating whatever I wanted, when I wanted it and look where it got me! Now it was time to play my own drill sergeant and buckle down hard and that’s exactly what I do, day in and day out.
This is where you may disagree with me, and that’s ok. You might say it doesn't hurt to occasionally take a day off journaling or to go ahead and go over your points because of a special occasion. Perhaps you’re also one of those people that can quit smoking by weaning yourself off cigarettes. The way I see it is that for each time you make an excuse to justify going off program, even temporarily, is another day (or longer) between you and your goal. I want to reach my goal as soon as I can, safely and within the parameters of the plan. (the plan referring to the Weight Watchers points system)
As soon as I adopted this mentality, I became like a run-away mine train. There was no stopping me, I was full steam ahead! There wasn’t a thing that could tempt me enough to go off program. I found I was stronger than those old desires for food, but let me tell you, they were strong. I still indulge in my former trigger foods, but I stay within my allotted daily points. That’s the beauty of the WW plan, is that you can eat whatever you want to, as long as you don’t go over your points! You do, however, learn how to make better food choices. My trigger foods were empty calories, leaving me wanting more, and not feeling full, not to mention contributing nothing to the betterment of my health. I soon learned that those foods weren’t worth the points allotment. I learned to eat healthier foods that filled me up. (more about this on the Food page)
Back to excuses: To be perfectly clear, I was the queen of excuses. I knew them all and used them often. Excuses are like a row of dominoes lined up...you topple the first one, and all the dominoes fall, one by one. The first one must be intentionally and willfully toppled, and then the rest fall freely. You make the first excuse, and then it gets easier and easier to make more. Soon, you’re off the program and gaining the weight back. Why set this into motion?
The Granddaddy of all excuses is: “I don’t have time.” I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every time I ever used it or every time I heard it. This one is bad news! It’s used for anything from skipping or not exercising or not eating as you should to win in this journey, and even refusing to attempt a weight loss plan at all. We all have the same 24 hours in our day. You must set your priorities. How bad do you want this anyway? I used to watch quite a bit of TV. Not only did I sit in front of the TV and eat junk food, I also sat in front of the TV burning only minimal calories. TV is a real time waster...most of today’s TV shows are not worth watching. You can make more time to achieve your goals if you cut down your TV time. The Internet is another time waster. Exercise first, email later. Your email and online friends will still be there, I guarantee you! When you’re lying on a hospital bed dying from clogged arteries, I’ll bet you would do anything to get the time back, the time that you wasted not doing something about your health. It will be too late then, so make intelligent use of your time now. You never get today back, you know. Sound harsh? You bet! Is it true? Absolutely!
Here’s some of my former favorite excuses and my answers to those now: “I deserve to have a piece of that chocolate cake.” Yep, you do deserve it, however, it’s only going to taste good for a few minutes, and then it will be gone. What would you rather have: the taste in your mouth for a few minutes, or to reach your goal weight? “Oh, this one piece of cake isn’t going to keep me from reaching my goal weight.” Sure it can. This one piece of cake can multiply like rabbits! Maybe not today, but there may be many more occasions of “just one piece of cake” or just one more helping of potato salad, etc. You get the picture!
“I was on vacation/away from home, so I couldn’t stay on the program.” What difference does it make where you are, or what you are doing? You have food choices to make whether you’re in your own kitchen, in a restaurant, or somewhere else. “There was only high calorie foods to choose from.” Ok, just eat less then. Simple, huh?
“I’m too tired to exercise.” That may be, but you only have one today. Calories in, calories out is the simple weight loss formula. You’ll probably be too tired tomorrow, too, so just get up and go do it. You’ll be amazed at what a pick-me-up exercise is. “But I am really am too tired.” It’s ok to have a day off exercise once per week, but beware the domino syndrome, and consider whether you truly are too tired, or are you just making an excuse? Excuses won’t bring you success in this journey. Here’s my personal motto: “No person, no event, and no emotion will keep me from attaining my goals.” We all have things that happen in our lives that aren’t easy. Some of us use these things as an excuse to overeat. Think about this: Is that food going to change whatever is happening to you? Is it going to hug you back & make you feel better? Is it going to solve your problems? No, of course not. In fact, most likely it will make things worse. Do not let these things get the better of you in this journey. You’re in control now. Find another outlet besides food when the going gets tough. Really stop & think about the event. Will you even remember it one week from now? 1 month from now? One year from now? You CAN be stronger than anything that comes your way. If you think you can’t, then you won’t, but if you think you can, then you will. The mind is an incredibly powerful tool….use it!
I’ll bet you can think of many more excuses that we use to sabotage ourselves. In the end, it all comes down to just how bad you want it. If you don’t want it bad enough, you’ll be the queen (or king) of excuses. If you want it bad enough, you’ll learn to think each scenario through, and to realize the danger of allowing excuses. If you could choose XXX, meaning the bad habit, or to reach goal tomorrow, you would choose goal every time. Now, you say” “But I’m not going to be at goal tomorrow”. No, probably not, but you can really make those tomorrows add up when you get into an excuses habit. I’m not going to be at goal tomorrow either, but my tomorrow is going to come a heck of a lot sooner than those who are experts at excuse making. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, how about you?
Excuses and the Holiday Season: This is the hardest time of the year to be on or embark on a weight loss journey, but it also can be the most rewarding time, given the right mindset. We truly have to do some very difficult external and internal battles to succeed at this time of year. External battles include pressure from those around us to eat more than we should. We are told: “Oh, this one time won’t hurt you”, or we are made to feel guilty about our positive choices: “Your aunt made that pie just for you.” Our internal food demon also wages war with us. Temptations are all around us. The sights and smells of our favorite foods may present a dilemma. We may tell ourselves that it’s ok because of the day as marked on the calendar, but it’s really just another day. The difference lies in how you think about food. Food as a main element in social gatherings is a mainstay of our society. How often do you attend a get together that does not involve food? When I first embarked on my weight loss journey, I would often use food as a reward. After a time, I realized doing that only reinforced my old thought processes about food. (and society’s as well) In our WW meetings, it is often mentioned that we must act as if we are naturally thin. Thin people do not attach the importance to food as we do. They see it as fuel, not a reward or a gratification tool. When you think about food, look upon it as a means to sustain your body, which it is exclusively. Undo the old thought patterns that give it much importance or give it a nurturing quality. It has no such capabilities! My “No Excuses Mentality” does not exclude holiday treats from your day, it merely reminds you to make wise choices and to stay within your points. High calorie treats are generally not filling nor nutritious. Fudge and pumpkin pie will not cease to exist after January 1st. Think about those things. Think about how much you want to succeed in your quest for better health. Consider how you view food, and make a change to see it only as fuel. Don’t predestine yourself to maintaining or gaining during the holidays by thinking that’s what always happens to you. Make something different happen by changing your mindset about food. Find love and comfort in those around you and in the real meaning of the holidays! Happy Holidays to all of you! Kelly
|
|
“Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” George Washington Carver |